Automatic gas cutoff



May l, 1945- c. c. PHILLIPS 2,375,131

AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFF Filed July 20, 1942 (m4/@5 CPM/715 1NVENTOR.

- Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATES rr TENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to fthe art of automatic cut-'off devices 4for valves ingas-supply lines, in Y connection with `any gas appliance.

As .is well known, ythere is always dangeriof the ame of f any gasappliance being extinguished by reduction of .pressure in the gas supplyline. There is also the consequent danger of the -ga's continuing toflow inreduced pressure to and through the burner of the applianceWithout being burned; andzthere is the further aggravated dan'geriof thegas escaping vunburned `from the burner when vthe pressure has returnedto normal. Not only is Athere the waste Vof gas under vsuch'eondition'sbut lthereis also the very serious .danger of .an explosion, as ofcourse will be understood. e

There have been attempts to remedy thissitua- `tion by providing meansfor .automatically shutiting off-thelgas when the lgaspressurefallsbelow thelpredetermined point that corresponds to that offcombustion at vthe burner, .and for `preventing the ilowof gas to `theburner from being resumed, at normal pressure, -until the cut-olf deviceis released. Instances of such devices are found in the patents toWalters No. 1,963,452, Junev 19, 1934, and Chandler No. 2,072,868, March"9, 1937. Itis upon these patented devices that I have produced animprovement in several respects.

` One objectof my invention, for instance, isto provide such-a .deviceinwhich there is means for guiding vand steadying the valve so that themeans for locking the same may be simpliiied; and, furthermore, it is anobject 'to provide such -means forguiding and steadying the valve, ofya,

comparatively simple nature. n

Another object consists in providing such a 'cut-off device with 'meansfor preventirm foreign 'matter from entering the same and consequentlyfrom interfering with the effective seating of the valve.

Another object is toprovide such a device with a stop means, of 'animproved form, for limiting the extent of the valve-opening movement.

Another object is to embody vin such a device,

as a unitary part thereof, a pressure regulator val-ve for the supply ofgas as it enters the device. Another object is toprovidean improvedmeans for. securing the kdiaphragm in assembly.

.Another object is to provide such a .device that can .be employed withnot only the familiar inammable gas 4but with any formfof gas includingair.

' description fand claims when considered together Vwith theaccompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional view of my improved .device with the valvelocked in iolosed position;

and .that 'theremight be devised various modi- `cations thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as herein set forthandclaimed.

The ,body ofmy Vpresent form Vof device I.comprises fo'ur parts, namelythe bottom part I, :the diaphragm .ring 2, which may be bolted to Athebottom part I, the :part 3 whichwhas screwthreaded engagement withthering 2., and the top part 4 which has screw-threaded engagement with-the -part 3. l

Thebottom part Vyl A'has the gas inlet15 land the gas outlet 6, .bothvof rwhich havemeans of threaded .engagement for the attachment offthisdevice in the assemblyy intended. The inner wall .la has .an openingtherethrough formedwith a seat for the valve 1 which is adapted forclosing the same; andthe valve 'l has yan upwardly and downwardlyextending stem slidably `and-freely engaging in lsuitable openingsthrough `the -top and bottom `parts of the casing for the purpose vofguiding and steadying the valve in its movement inv a vertical,`straight-'line path. The gas, after passing the valve 1, flows throughthe outlet 6 which is in line with the inlet 5, thereby affording asubstantially direct flow of gas through the device.

The valve 1thas connected to the upper end thereof 'the flexiblecircular diaphragm 9 of leather or other suitable material, thisdiaphragm having its edge portion attached to the lannular ring 2 priorto assembly ofthe ring with the other parts. The inner lflange of ring 2has an annular recess 2a to receive the down-turned'edge portion of thediaphragm 9 which `is secured therein Aby means'of a ring 2b 4ofsuitable material. Then, upon screwing the part 3 into position, itslower edge will -iirmly clampv the ring' 2b and the edge portion of thediaphragm so as to secure'the diaphragm in permanent and fixed position.Ihe ring 2b may be of a sufficiently ductilenature to respond 'to thecompression of the part 43 and thereby serve toanchor. the edge portionof the diaphragm within the recess 2a.

The diaphragm .9 .is attached to the valve '7 in .tension I0 of thevalve.

the transverse wall I4. That is, the weight of th lower part of memberI2 will normally turn the same, by force of gravity, about itspivotpoint in a clockwise direction so as to bring the curved portion I2abeneath the edge of the opening I3, this locked position of the memberI2 corresponding to closed position ofthe valve T, as' indicated in Fig.l. When the member I2 occupies'such locked position, the valve 'I cannot be opened by gas pressure but it is necessary to' manually releasethe locking member I21in order to open s the valve. -The threaded memberII will be set at the proper position upon `the threaded eX- tension I0at the time of assembly of the parts in order for the locking member I2to bear' proper relation tothe edge of the-opening I3 and thus functionin the manner'intended according to a certain predetermined minimum gaspressure. Then, having once set the member II, it will remain in suchposition. If so desired, there may be providedrameans for locking themember Il insuch set position, as for instance a set screw. The lockingprojection' is so formed with the vcurved portionV I2athat, upon turningthe same counter-clockwise about its pivot point, it will clear 'theedge of the opening I3 so as to enter the same and permit the valve tobe raised to openposition, as indicated in Fig. 2. Access to thepartsfor' this purpose may be had upon ready removal of the cover or toppart 4. Then, when the locking projection has been lso raised toposition within kopening I3 and the'valve opened, asV indicated in Fig..2, the locking projection will rest against the edge of the opening I3.So long as the gas-pressure*remainsabove the predetermined minimum, asabove' mentioned, the locking member I2 in such position will remainidle andthe valve will continue to be held open by the pressurev of thegas upon the under-*side of the diaphragm.

Lhe extent to which the valve 1 may be opened is determined by the stoppin I5 which has screw- Ithreaded engagement in the top partv 4 so as tobe readily accessible for adjustment. This pin isinalignmentwith thereduced stem portion I6 thatprojects upwardly from the extension IU and,by means of the flush 'or counter-sunk head .of this pin, it may bemanipulated in an easy mannerywhenever desired, 'the head being providedwith a screw-driver slot. y

The portion I6 has free slidable engagement .at all times vin the flaredguide extension I1 upon the under-side of the top part 4; and thisarrangement serves not only in connection with stoppin I5 but alsoasa-further means of holding the valve y in `vertical position andensuring straight-line movementgof the same during openingand closing.The removable stop I5 also permits ready access to the upper guide meansfor servicing thesame so as to-preclude the danger of sticking.

In order to permit the escape of any gas that might leak into the upperpartof the device, I have provided the ventl.

In the inlet opening 5 I have inserted a readily removable ltercartridge I9 with a plurality of wire mesh screens 2U and 2I ofdifferent gauge, for the purpose of preventing the entrance of foreignparticles that might otherwise adhere to the valve 'I or its valve seatand thus interfere with the proper closing of the valve. This cartridgecan be removed by means of a handle I9a of wire or any other suitableform. Upon removal of the cartridge I9, it can be cleaned and replacedor a new cartridge may be inserted. These screens may be secured inposition in any suitable manner.` By means of having the screens 20 and2| inclined inthe manner indicated, any foreign matter will be apt todrop therefrom and hence they will not require attention as soon asother wise. j

' By means of the removable plug 22 inthe bottom of the device, accessmaybe had to the lower end of the valve stem portion 8 for the purposeof supplying a suitable lubricant to prevent sticking of thesame at anytime. The valve stem portion 8 will always occupy position within itsguide even when the valve occupies fully opened position; and the samething is true of the valve stem portion I6 in its guide I'I.

The slide valve 23 is adapted to regulate the gas pressure from the mainsupply line through the opening'24 in the wall 2a and is readilyaccessible for adjustment by means of the screwthreaded stem thatextends through the wall of the bottom part I of the casing.

When this device is rst installed, the regulator valve 23 will be set;likewise the stop pin I5 and the member I I and the Valve 'l will beopened by raising the locking member I2 in the manner above explained.It is to be understood that this device can be installed at any point ina gassupply line, wherever it is necessary or expedient to shut off thesupply of gas immediately upon reduction in pressure below a certainpoint. With this device, not only will the supply of gas beautomatically shut oli" under such condition, but the valve 1 will beautomatically locked closed so as to prevent any flow of `gastherethrough until it is manually released. The danger of resumed gasflow tothe burner, after accidental extinguishment of the burner flame,and the ow of gas through the burner and into the room occupied by theappliance, is so obvious as to require no explanation.

The regulator valve 23 will determine the gas `pressure upon the lowerside of the diaphragm, while the stop I5 will determine the maximumextent to which the valve "I may be opened and thus also serve as apressure regulator device. As is well known, a pressure regulator valveis always provided in the gas supply line; and there is av decidedadvantage in having the valve 23 embodied in and as part of the samedevice with the stop means I5. In this way, there is some reasonableassurance that these two regulator devices will both receive .attentionand will be set in proper accordance with each other. Furthermore, byhaving the pressure regulator 23 embodied in this device, the gaspressure in the supply line can be set for each individual appliancewith which this automatic cut-oli device is associated and, as a result,there is no dan-- ger of the diaphragm 9 being subjected to excesspressure at any time. Thus, with my device, the gas pressure may be keptunder complete control and there is every assurance of obtaining andmaintaining the highest possible degree of eiiciency. Also, theregulator valve 23 and its' means of adjustment, in the presentcombination, is not subjected to the usual foreign particles which arehere removed by the filter.

By providing the double guide means for the valve stem, at top .andbottom, there is not only ensured dependable straight-line movement ofthe valve without requiring any other means for this purpose, but itbecomes possible also to employ a rather simple form `of structure withrespect to the `mounting and operation of the valve-locking mechanism,as above explained.

Another advantage resides in the stop means I which is readilyaccessible at all times from the outside of the device and which doesnot protrude from the wall of the casing.

Recognizing the fact that there are here provided v'irtually two gaspressure regulating means, as` abo-ve explained, both of them arereadily accessible and they can be very conveniently and advantageouslyset the one with respect to the other, as above pointed out.

Also, there is precluded any danger of foreign particles being depositedupon either the valve 'i or its seat or upon the valve mechanism 23.

This device can be employed in connection with either natural orartiiicial gas, so far as the familiar inflammable gas is concerned..

Another advantage resides in the means for securing the diaphragm inassembly, with resulting convenience and eiiciency. This particularmeans, in combination with my means for preventing undue gas pressureupon the diaphragm, will permit the diaphragm to be made of certainmaterial which otherwise would be prohibited, and this arrangementgreatly facilitates the assembly of the diaphragm whenmade of suchmaterial, as will be understood by those who are familiar with the artto which this invention relates.

The pressure regulator valve 23 may serve also as a means of entirelyshutting on' the gas supply to this device by simply setting the valve23 in fully closed position.

While the abovedescription refers to the use of the familiar inflammablegas, yet in the iollowing claims the term gas is employed in its broadersense so as to include air or any other form of gas; and thusV the scopeof the following claims is not` to be understood as being limited todevices for inammable gas but is suiiiciently broad to comprehend alsodevices for other gases including air.

What I claim is: I

l. A gas cut-oir device comprising a casing provided with inlet andoutlet openings, a flexible diaphragm disposed substantiallyhorizontally in said casing, a substantially vertically disposed valvefor closing on the passage oi gas between said inlet and outletopenings, said valve being connected to said diaphragm, said valvehaving a downwardly projectin,cr stem portion and an upwardly projectingstem portion, said casing having guide means for at least one of saidvalve stem portions so as to ensure straightline movement of said valve,a single locking member pivotally mounted upon said upwardly projectingstem portion, said locking member having a weighted portion below itspoint of pivotal mounting and having an upward projection formanipulation thereof and having an intermediate locking projection, atransversely disposed wall within said casing and having a centralaperture for said locking member, said parts being so constructed andarranged that said locking projection may be turned upwardly into saidaperture, upon opening said valve, and will remain in raised position solong as the gas pressureupon said diaphragm remains above apredetermined point and will b-e automatically lowered so as to havelocking engagement below the edge of said opening in the event the gaspressure upon said diaphragm falls below a pre determined point.

2. A gas cut-off device comprising a casing provided with inlet andoutlet openings, a flexible diaphragm disposed substantiallyhorizontally in said casing, a substantially vertically disposed valvefor closing the passage of gas between said inlet andv outlet openings,said valve being connected to said diaphragm, said valve having upwardlyand downwardly projecting stem portions, said casing`having guide meansabove and below said diaphragm for ,said valve stem portions so as toensure straight-line movement of said valve, a single locking membermounted upon said upwardly projecting stem portion for adjustablemovement therealong and for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis,and means provided upon the interior of said A casing for co-operativeengagement by said lockingv member so as to automatically lock saidvalve in closed position in the event of the lowering of the gaspressure upon said diaphragm below a predetermined point.

3. A- gas cut-on device comprising a casing provided with inlet andoutlet openings, a flexible diaphragm disposed substantiallyhorizontally in said casing, a substantially vertically disposed valvefor closing the passage between said inlet and outlet openings andbeing'connected to said diaphragm, said valve having an upwardly anddownwardly projecting stem, the top and bottom parts of said casinghaving guide means for said valve stem so as to ensure straight-linemovement oi said valve, locking means pivotally mounted upon the upperpart of said stem, and means provided upon the interior of said casingfor co-operative engagement with said locking means so as toautomatically lock said valve in closed position in the event of alowering of the gas pressure upon said diaphragm below a predeterminedpoint.

4. A gas cut-oi? device comprising a casing provided with inlet andoutlet openings, a flexible diaphragm disposed substantiallyhorizontally in said casing, a substantially vertically disposed valvefor closing the passage between said inlet and outlet openings and beingconnected `to said diaphragm, said valve having an upwardly anddownwardly projecting stem, the top 'and bottom parts of said casingabove and below said diaphragm having guide means for said valve stem soas to ensure straight-line movement of said valve, the top and bottom ofsaid casing each having an opening and a removable closure thereforpermitting access to said guide means for servicing the same, lockingmeans pivotally mounted upon said upper part of said valve stem andenclosed within said casing, and means provided upon the interior ofsaid casing for cooperative engagement by said locking means so as toautomatically lock said valve in closed position in theevent of thelowering of the gas pressure upon said diaphragm below a predeterminedpoint.

CHARLES C. PHILLIPS.

